Mine conveyer



Dec. 15, 1942. IL, E, JARRETT ErA'L 2,305,009

` MINE ('JONVEYIEZR` Filed Nov. 12, 1940 llllllllllllllllllllllll ENT ORS Zivi/.2J ATTORN Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINE CONVEYER Luther Jarrett, Smithers, and Hem-y M.

Stephens, MontgomerygW..Va`

Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 355,160

Claims.

This invention relates to conveyers, particularly those used in miningr operations for transporting coal and the like from rooms into cars working in a main tunnel.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of a conveyer made up of separable sections some of which extend langularly so that the conveyer may turn corners and in other respects be altered as to its extent and direction as the mining operationsV are extended.

Another object is the provision of a conveyer comprising straight and curved chute sections including alternately disposed formations adapted to intert with like formations on abutting sections to facilitate reversibility of the curved sections With respect to the straight sections` to change the direction of the conveyer.

A further object relates to the construction of the intertting or separable trough sections themselves, the same being characterized by the fact that they may be struck or stamped from sheet metal, and include intertting formations for cooperation with other sections, means for securing the sections together', formations in the nature of vchannels in the bottomsthereof toaccommodater the drag chain, and means for easing the drag chain aroundcurves in the channels.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as the cooperative relationship of the component parts of the illustrativeembodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a conveyer installation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a curved or elbow section of the conveyer chute or trough;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section across the conveyer in the direction of lines 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective fragment to enlarged scale of one of the attaching cleats for holding the sections together;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail to enlarged scale of one of the chain links as seen along lines 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the elbow sections.

The improved conveyer structure consists of a plurality of interfitting trough or chute sections I0, II and I2 (Fig. 2) some of which are straight like sections I0 and I2, and others of which are curved in varying amounts like the elbow section II. These sections are preferably stamped from relatively heavy metal to provide adjacent trough portions I3 and I4 down the center of each of which extends a channel I-5 adapted to accommodate a drag chain I6V (Fig. 1), there being a central partition I'l separating the two trough portions, and opposite sidewall flanges I8.

At the alternate opposite end of eachV trough portion in each conveyer section there is provided an intertting flange element I9 in the form of a strap which is bent to fit against the bottom of the trough in conformity with Athe surface portions thereof including the channeled part I5. These flange elements are preferably secured to their respective end portions of each section by welding, and their purpose is to fit under the bottom portion of the abutting end of an adjoining section in Vassembled relation, in the manner illustrated inthe enlargedplan view-of Fig. 6, where the underlying lip or flange portions I9 on alternate trough ends are seen in dotted lines. In this manner va close and substantially rigid interengagement of the sections is assured (see Fig. 5).

The ends of the side wall flanges I8 of each section are provided with attaching means (Figs. 3 and 4 also) in the form of cleats or flanges 20 secured as by welding to the outside surface portions of the side walls and each `provided with an opening 2| to receive an attaching bolt 22 (Fig. 6).

A feature of the foregoing construction resides in the arrangement of the intertting flanges or lips I9 on alternate sides at the ends of each chute section, by virtue of which it is possible to reverse the direction of the elbow or other curved sections II.

Heavy end plates 25 and 26 (Fig. 1) are provided for disposition at the opposite ends of the conveyer in assembled condition, these plates being provided with attaching cleats 20a, similar to the cleats 20, for engagement with attaching bolts to the cleats 20 at the ends of the chute. The plate 26 is adapted to be mounted on a trusswork platform 21 in the main mine tunnel 28, above the tracks 29 upon which the mine cars run, the cars passing beneath the plate 26 to receive coal transported thereto by the dragchain conveyer elements. The remaining sections of the conveyer chute rest on the oor 30 (Figs. 1 and 3) of the room in which the face of the vein or seam is being worked.

The conveying means itself consists of the drag chain IB which is adaptedto be trained over opposite sprockets 25a and 26a mounted respectively on the end plates 25 and 26, the links of the chain lying in the channel portions I5, as

illustrated particularly inFig. 3. Sections of the links of the chain I6 are removably joined at intervals by iiight links Ia (Fig. each of which carries a pusher or flight section Ib, pins I6c being employed to connect the flight links with the otherlinks, and these pins being held in position by cotter pins Id. The flights |61) are dimensioned to t as closely as possible into the trough portions I3 and I4 consistent with free movement thereof,

A feature of the conveyer structure resides in the take-up means provided on one of the end plates 25 and consisting of a journal block 40' mounted to slide in a slot 4I in the general directions of movement of the chain sections, the sprocket 25a being journaled in block 40 which threadably engages an velongated worm 42 seated beneath plate 25 to be rotated by crank means 43 to advance or retract the journal block 4&3 as desired, and hence slacken or tighten the chain I6.

To ease the chain around the corners, the curved or elbow sections are provided with rollers 45 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) journaled on the underside of the trough section and having a wide rim portion 46 projecting through a slot 41 cut in a side ofthe channel part I5, so that the side of the chain will ride against the rim of the roller.

The chain is adapted to be trained at a relativelyslow rate over the sprockets 25a and 26a by means such as a motor 49 on plate 26 connected by Worm gear means 50 with sprocket 26a.

It will appear from the foregoing description inview of the drawing that the invention provides an improved conveyer structure consisting of a plurality of interfitting chute sections each provided with a double trough, and each provided with means at its opposite ends for attachment to companion sections in making up a conveyer of any length and directional extension. It will appear, vmoreover, that the invention provides for the close intertting of the chute sections by employing flange or lip formations at alternate ,sides of the opposite ends of the individual sections, such arrangement being provided with a further view toward reversing the attachment of curved or elbow sections. The improvements relate further to the take-up adjustment for the drag chain, as well as the means for supporting the drag chain in the bottom of the trough portions.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include al1l equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A conveyer structure comprising a plurality of, individual chute sections including straight and curved sections, adapted to t end to end to define a conveyer trough, and means at the ends of said sections for intertting the same in assembled relation for the purpose aforesaid,

said means comprising complementary lip formations at each end of the chute, said formations extending alternately from one side wall of said chute section to the mid region thereof, and adapted to render said curved sections reversible relative to adjoining sections to change the direction of the conveyer structure.

2. In a conveyer structure, chute sections each comprising a plate member formed to provide a central partition dividing the same into two trough portions each having an outer side wall and each formed to provide a bottom channel adapted to receive a drag chain extending in the direction of the length thereof, together with means at the ends of said sections for end to end engagement with another chute section, said means comprising an integral ange formed on alternate sides of each chute section at one end of each trough portion and adapted to interfit with an end portion of an adjoining chute section to permit reversibility of said chute sections relative to each other.

3. In a conveyer structure, chute sections each comprising a plate member formed to provide a central partition dividing the same into two trough portions each having an outer side wall, together with means at the ends of said sections for end to end engagement with another chute section, said means comprising an integral flange formed on alternate sides of each chute section at one end of each trough portion and adapted to intert with an end portion of an abutting chute section, and means for securing the said chute sections in abutting relation with an abutting chute section.

4. In a conveyer structure, in combination, straight and curved chute sections each comprising a plate member formed to provide a central partition dividing the same into two trough portions Aeach having an outer wall and a lip formation at diagonally opposed corners and extending alternately from one side wall of each chute section to the mid-region thereof and adapted to underlie the bottom of an abutting end portion of another chute section whereby to render said curved sections reversible relative to adjoining straight sections, and means at the opposite ends of said sections for securing the same in abutting relationship with adjoining sections. Y

5. In a conveyer structure, a plurality of individual straight and curved chute sections each having at least two trough portions extending side by side in the direction of the length thereof, and means on alternate sides of each chute section at one end of each trough portion therein for intertting engagement with an end portion of a trough portion on an abutting chute section, together with means at the ends of said sections for securing the Vsame in abutting relationship with adjoining chute sections, said curved chute sections being reversible in abutting engagement with adjoining straight sections to change the direction of the conveyer structure.

LUTHER E. JARRETT. HENRY M. STEPHENS. 

